Abandoned in Darfur - Week's End

It's a complicated subject, no doubt about it; we won't disagree. What brought this on? Someone asked us today if 'that Darfur thing' was over. Seriously. A good resource (wherever you are, even if not in the States) is the Enough Project. [Also in right sidebar]

At the very least, won't you protest to your (various) governments? In an e-mail or telephone call? If you've already done that, do it again. Discover your inner pest & redirect it towards officials-who-might-give-a-damn & keep out of trouble with family & friends.

The Management

[photographs by Susan Burgess-Lent/DPDO/all rights reserved/used with permission]

L'eau pour Darfour...

So if we write it in French, will that be more stylish? Italian? That's tomorrow. Yes, we're feeling defeated. Over a year of mostly chipper, we-can-do-it cheer-leading isn't working. Reporters, except for Nick Kristof & a few others, no longer bother. to mention Darfur. If Angie or George C. show up, maybe. Even then...

The first photograph is a Darfur Peace & Development Schools of Peace; the second is its water system. No kidding. You should see how gets there (if it does). People, people, people. For one moment, would you please stop "hearting" & squealing over the latest thing you want & think about being thirsty? And there's not a drop to be had...or it's filthy dirty. Do you think these folks are just going to have to get used to this? Why should they? That was not the reality before 2003 for most of them. They had water just like you--what if someone took away your water tomorrow? You want to know the basic difference between your situation & theirs? Luck. Fate. You were born elsewhere. That's it. You didn't do anything to deserve better; they didn't do anything to deserve worse.

Sigh. Please go here to read about Clean Water Project & maybe you can give $5.00. We don't have a job & we just did. A little challenge.

[Photos by Susan Burgess-Lent/DPDO/all rights reserved; if by some miracle you want to use any SBL pix for a fundraiser, pls contact GG's editor]

"How unpleasant, must we talk about Darfur?"

Yes, we agree; how terribly unpleasant it all is: Darfur, Congo, Burma, etc. How very seven years ago (in the case of Darfur).

But you know what strikes us as really bad manners? Allowing people to starve, be brutalized, raped & remaining silent. The fact remains that these things are happening & as we've said before, it's in your self-interest to do something about it. No one is asking you to give your entire life over to a cause; what's 15 minutes? We waste that x 2 nearly every day watching a Seinfeld repeat. (Not all activists are humorless wretches--truly.) There are links all over this page for anyone to visit. We hope you will....

We continue this week with some repeats from last year because we are still unwell & there are some lovely photos that most people haven't seen. We'll check email every day. Thanks so much.

[school children at Ain Sero & women collecting firewood near Kutum by Susan Burgess-Lent/DPDO/all rights reserved. Taken in May 2008; things are much worse now.]

You can help Aung San Suu Kyi--will you?

We interrupt our illness to plead for a little online advocacy on behalf of Aung San Suu Kyi . Since 1988 we've had a poster of the great Nobel Laureate on our wall at home & at our office. She is an inspiration every single day.

A great injustice is happening again (still); we need not recount it. What you do matters. Please go to the online sites & sign the petitions. Go to Amnesty International & sign whatever is there. To the U.S. Campaign for Burma. Canadians have a stake in this, too, of course as she is an honorary citizen of that wonderful country. There were protests in Canada this week but we've not been able to keep up. In case you've not signed those petitions, here is the link to Canadian Friends of Burma .

We are very tired but felt that with the trial going forward in Rangoon & the outrageous last few weeks, we have to say something. Thank you.

photo via scan of personal copy of Letters from Burma by Aung San Suu Kyi

One foot (or paw) in front of the other...

...is the only way to get there, anywhere. Especially in an ancient, storied town like Matera, southern Italy (a UNESCO Heritage site). (Photographs by miki**) Good morning.

ciao-meow, GG/mgmt

A tiny tough bird...

How do these seemingly fragile, teensy beings live in this weather? Lovely photograph by Tom Grim, Gray Bird in Cold Wind. Snow is coming (might arrive while we sleep). We hear tales of lots o' snow in the UK & Paris. Too late to check it out at this writing. Stay cozy.

ciao-snowy-meow,
GG's editor